India’s banking sector faces a major disruption as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has announced a nationwide strike on January 27, 2026, to demand immediate implementation of a five-day work week. The umbrella body representing nine major bank employee and officer unions issued the strike notice under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, targeting operations from midnight January 26 to midnight January 27.

The notice, addressed to the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), Chief Labour Commissioner, and Department of Financial Services, accuses authorities of delaying approval despite earlier agreements. UFBU highlighted that the IBA had recommended the five-day week to the government following a December 7, 2023 memorandum of understanding and a March 8, 2024 settlement. Unions have agreed to extend daily working hours by about 40 minutes to maintain the same weekly hours, yet no final clearance has come from the government or regulators even after nine months.

The demand for a five-day week traces back to 2015 when only the second and fourth Saturdays were declared holidays. Since then, repeated discussions with the IBA have yielded broad consensus but no implementation. UFBU argues that employees in the Reserve Bank of India, LIC, GIC, central and state government offices, and stock exchanges already follow a five-day schedule. Bank staff, they say, endure excessive workload and stress due to chronic staff shortages, making the demand both fair and overdue.

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In the lead-up to the strike, UFBU has planned a phased agitation including member mobilisation meetings, social media campaigns, badge protests, press conferences at state capitals, and a nationwide rally. If no breakthrough occurs in talks, banking services—including branch operations, ATM refills, cheque clearances, and digital transactions—could face widespread impact on January 27.

The strike announcement comes at a time when India’s banking sector is already grappling with high customer expectations for seamless services and digital transformation. Unions maintain that the move would improve employee well-being without compromising productivity.

Customers are advised to plan transactions in advance and use digital channels where possible ahead of the proposed strike date.

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